R7 Aurora crashes after coming out of sleep mode and AlienFX constantly disables itself

Hi! I had the exact same problem(s) with my R7. Updating the Nvidia driver directly from Nvidia's website (more recent than Dell website) made the AlienFX problem disappear. Downgrading BIOS v1.0.5 to v1.0.2 (after contacting Dell premium support) solved the sleep mode issue. Hope this also works for your machine!

Hi @Workbench75,

What have you tried so far?

W-Z, thanks for your reply!  I tried it, it didn't work on this computer.

I spent another 4 more hrs with Tech Support two evenings ago, now over 8 hrs total.  They insisted on reinstalling Windows 10 Professional, reinstalling all the associated driver software for all devices, and reinstalling all the software associated with my Dell purchase.  In layman terms, restoring the computer back to the original configuration in which it was delivered.  Guess what, the same problems still exist!  I wonder if tech support will still insist this is a software problem or two?  It’s been over 24 hrs since I emailed them that the same problems still exist.  No response from them yet.  I think they hate to omit this computer is a 🍋!  But lemons happen in life; I don’t hold that against them.  What I do hold against them is that they refuse to replace this computer so far with a working one!

Send me a PM with your Service Tag, so I can review your case. 

Hi,

I have the same issue.  Were you guys able to come up with a solution?

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@dtliaowrote:

Hi,

I have the same issue.  Were you guys able to come up with a solution?

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Nothing productive ever happened here in this old-thread.

I suggest you start a new one.

Had the same problem with an Aurora R7 that I ordered on February 14, 2018. No one in Dell tech support was able to help, so I returned the PC.

There are some threads on Reddit going back to last year in which R7 owners report this sleep/crash problem, and no one has a solution.

Hey Tesla,

Thanks for your suggestions.  I don't know much about computers.  Can you please walk me through on how to set my BIOS?  Thanks!

Likely just a bad driver. Maybe even a BIOS glitch ... releasing a new model every year with the newest (and un-proven) motherboard and everything else ...  is certainly not helping things.

I've also seen some questionable default BIOS settings, and strange choices of pre-loaded driver-suites and software.

That's why using:
- a mature (but maybe not the latest) BIOS
- some reasonable BIOS settings
- a clean/fresh load of Windows-10 64bit install
- lean drivers

Usually works great.

But people think it's too much work, not their responsibility, or they want to save the seemingly "magical Dell pre-load" ... so it never gets done.

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@dtliaowrote:

Hey Tesla,

Thanks for your suggestions.  I don't know much about computers.  Can you please walk me through on how to set my BIOS?  Thanks!

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I don't have an Aurora-R7 here. I suggest you give Alienware Tech support a call. They can help you fix your computer.

If after trying ... if Sleep-Mode is still causing trouble, they can show you how to disable it (as a temp work-around) ... including from BIOS if needed.

> Fix your drivers.

I'm not convinced this is just a driver problem, and that's why I returned mine. When the PC crashed, there was never an error message or a Windows blue screen detailing the source of the crash. Instead, the PC would just shut down and go into a reboot. The Windows Event Viewer never provided any helpful information.

It's also concerning that this problem has been around for at least four months and no one from Dell has issued a response to multiple reports.

I might still consider buying an Aurora some day, but not before Dell has announced a fix for this.

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@Pexwrote:

> Fix your drivers.

I'm not convinced this is just a driver problem, and that's why I returned mine.

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I think "fix your drivers" is an over-simplification. :Smile:

Sorry it didn't work-out for you. But remember, there are hundreds of these machines being built and shipped-out every month. Maybe even thousands this late into production cycle (if finally now world-wide released) .

With it's cutting-edge hardware (and it's required new and un-proven drivers and firmware in all the components) ... this happens occasionally ... usually early in a new machine's production-cycle ... causing a "rough release".

Whether the problem was:
- Firmware/BIOS (in motherboard or some other component)
- Core Driver
- Dell Value-Added custom software pre-loaded
- Microsoft driver or their OS code
- Defective newly designed parts from OEM supplier (very rare, but they get revised is needed)

... it's been resolved by now. Sometimes a particularly bad (vendor supplied) driver release ends-up in the software-image they pre-load into all the machines. For the early-adopters ... that's what warranties are for. 

You see this situation a lot these days with any complex computerized machines ... appliances, electronics, and cars for example. Every few years they make a major re-design and it's a little worse. 

Here is an example of a new (fully loaded) Aurora-R7 that is working fine:

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-bios-update-v-1-0-8/m-p/6044743#M2718

Yeah.  I was thinking of returning it but the specs are better than a new Imac so I decided to keep it and just shut off sleep mode until I find a fix.  So far, no issues at all.  Keeping my fingers crossed.